Handgun Guide Rod

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to an improved guide rod with a flange comprising a partial lip that allows for improved contact with both the barrel and the frame of the handgun when the firearm slide is racked to further allow greater accuracy of the handgun upon discharge of a round.

The present invention relates in generally to a handguns, more specifically to a handgun spring and guide rod assembly.

The guide rod assembly is typically a cylindrical rod that is provided to optimize the performance of recoil springs through additional support and spring alignment. The guide rod controls how the pistol's slide functions. Thus by controlling the spring, the guide rod helps position the recoil spring during the firing cycle. Some handguns feature a capture spring which is an assembly of the guide rod and spring as a unit. In essence the guide rod then maintains the recoil spring itself and in turn enhances the slide return.

Typically, the guide rod is inserted into the slide of a handgun by pinching the rear portion of the rod forward and into of the slide. An indent on the barrel lug, also present within the slide, provides the position for securing the guide rod inside the handgun slide. At this point, the flanged rear end of the guide rod will sit securely on the semi-circular portion on the handgun frame, and the lower notch on the barrel lug.

The design of the spring guide rod is such that upon insertion into the slide, it sits securely against the barrel lug notch, and in contact with the semi-circular portion on the frame. The issue comes when the user “racks the slide” to allow the fire arm to be fired. When this happens, the spring guide rod disengages from the barrel notch and sits firmly in the semi-circular portion of the handgun frame. Therefore, a small distance between the guide rod and the barrel is created. Although most users will not notice an issue because this operation happens internally and is not readily apparent through inspection, creating a secure fit between the barrel, the handgun frame, and the recoil spring guide rod is important for increased accuracy on a round is fired down range. Additionally, due to the design of the barrel, the barrel has an upper and a lower notch. If the guide rod is installed incorrectly onto the barrel notch, the guide rod might not make adequate contact with the handgun frame and will eventually break.

Therefore, it should be apparent that there is a need for an apparatus which provides a means for securing the spring guide rod into the frame while maintaining contact with the barrel of the handgun.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention provide a handgun guide rod and more particularly to a guide rod which provides maximum contact points when installed into the handgun. The guide rod functions as the controlling mechanism by which the recoil spring is positioned and guided while the handgun slide reciprocates prior to, during, and after the discharge of a round.

Directed towards Glock style handguns and not limited herein, these handguns utilize a guide rod composed of a single cylindrical rod with a recoil spring permanently affixed on the rod. These guide rods feature a front end and a rear end flange which is a flat circular surface. The frame of the handgun features a semicircular portion by which the guide rod makes contact with when the handgun slide is racked. Prior to racking the slide, the barrel of the handgun, which features an upper and lower notch provide a contact surface for the guide rod. Once the guide rod is racked, the circular rear portion disengages contact with the barrel notch and is then secured by the semicircular portion of the handgun frame. Due to this design, only half of the guide rod circular rear flange is in contact at any given point in time during operation of the handgun.

While the guide rod is secured, it is only partially secured, and can flex. Thus flexion creates two problems. The first is that the guide rod is much more susceptible to bending and hence breaking. The second is that this flexion reduces overall components rigidity which is detrimental to accuracy.

Thus, increasing the contact surfaces between the guide rod, handgun frame and the barrel, an improved guide rod design can mitigate both the probability of handgun failure due to guide rod breakage as well as improves the accuracy of the handgun due to rigidity of the aforementioned internal components. This is accomplished by an improved guide rod featuring a circular rear flange, similar to the original guide rod, but with a semicircular lip protruding from the circular rear flange.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a handgun frame without a slide or barrel assembly.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a barrel.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the present invention and its screw and bushing.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the present invention and its screw and bushing with a recoil spring attached.

FIG. 5 is a partial illustration of the present invention installed into a handgun frame without a slide of a barrel assembly.

FIG. 6 is a partial illustration of the present invention installed into a transparent body handgun slide, with the barrel present.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the present invention fully installed into a transparent bodied handgun frame and a transparent bodied slide, also sowing the barrel installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is directed towards a recoil spring guide rode, and more specifically to a recoil spring guide rod with unique features, herein. The following descriptions are set forth and have been assigned numerical designations to enable the reader to understand the reasoning behind and the application of the present invention. These, as well as other features of the present invention, will become more obvious when taken with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a handgun frame 100. The semicircular engagement portion 103 by which a recoil guide spring engages upon racking the slide of the handgun is also shown. Normally, this engagement portion 103 will provide the only point of contact for a guide rod when the firearm is racked and ready to fire. FIG. 2 is an illustration of the barrel 200, and features an upper notch 203, which is also shaped as a semicircle, and a lower notch 201 which provides engagement for components unrelated to this invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded illustration of the present invention showing its screw 307, bushing 305, and guide rod 300. Positioning the bushing 305 on the end opposite the flange 301 and insertion of the screw 307 into the hollow cylindrical body of the guide rod 300 provides a means for mitigating the movement of a spring 304 away from the body of the guide rod 300. This is further shown in and should be apparent upon inspection of FIG. 4. FIG. 4 also shows the essential feature of the guide rod 300 where the flange 301 is a circular surface with a semicircular portion, the flange lip 302, protruding and extending away from the body of the guide rod 300. The flange 301 is designed to sit and position the guide rod 300 at the handgun frame semicircular portion 103, as shown in FIG. 5. Notice that the flange lip 302 extends away from the guide rod 300, and over the semicircular engagement portion 103 on the handgun frame 100. A partial view of the present invention installed onto the barrel upper notch 203 is shown in FIG. 6. Notice that the flange lip 302 at the rear end of the guide rod 300 is shown in engagement with the barrel 200. Recoil spring 304 is also present and secured in place within the handgun slide 400. Finally, FIG. 7 illustrated the present invention installed into the handgun frame 100, and handgun slide 400 also present in a racked position. In this configuration, the flange lip 302 is in engagement with the barrel 200 at the upper notch 203 and also in engagement with the handgun frame 100. Recoil spring 304 is also shown positioned around the guide rod 300. 

1. An apparatus for use with a handgun comprising: a screw, a bushing, a recoil spring, and a recoil spring guide rod.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said screw is of adequate outer circumference to secure a recoil spring.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bushing arrests the screw and secures the guide rod.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recoil spring is of a lesser diameter than the outer circumference of the screw.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide rod comprises an internally threaded front end and a flanged rear end.
 6. A recoil spring guide rod for use with a handgun, said guide rod comprising: a front end and a rear end.
 7. The guide rod of claim 6, wherein said guide rod forms a hollow cylindrical body.
 8. The guide rod of claim 6, wherein said front end is partially internally threaded.
 9. The guide rod of claim 6, the rear end comprises a circular flange with a semicircular lip extending away from the rear end. 